CHIGACO—Two Sides North America has released a new study, with facts on why the organization believes paperless initiatives do no save trees. The organization commissioned Dovetail Partners, an environmental think-tank specializing in forestry research and analysis, to do the study.

"This study is another example of why slogans such as 'go paperless - save trees' or 'go green - go paperless' are not only misleading, but false,” Phil Riebel, president of Two Sides North America, said. “Over the past 60 years, the number of trees on managed U.S. forest lands has been increasing considerably due to responsible forestry practices. Wood is a valuable renewable resource that we are taking care of.”

Facts in the study report:

Using less paper does not mean that wood harvesting will be reduced.

Similar or rising volumes of wood are being harvested in key forest regions of North America for other uses including lumber, fuel pellets, and pulp for use in production of packaging, tissues, and textiles.

The market focus is likely to shift to other opportunities besides paper given the broad utility of wood, global needs for raw materials, and incentives of many forest owners to derive income from their lands.